Leichhardt's tracks on the heads of the Thomson, but unsuccessfully.

Dr. Iffla asked whether Mr. Landsborough in the course of his brilliant
journey across the country met with many bodies of natives, and whether
they evinced a friendly or hostile disposition.

Mr. Landsborough did not admit that it was a brilliant journey.
(Laughter.) He saw very few blacks. The largest number he saw at a time
was about thirty. He saw no tracks of blacks and he could not imagine
that they were numerous. He always avoided having much intercourse with
the blacks. He seldom had any trouble with them until this expedition. On
the Barcoo River a number of blacks who had previously appeared most
friendly approached the camp in the middle of the night and, but for the
watchfulness of Jemmy, might have knocked them on the head. They were
driven away, but the next morning they appeared disposed to attack the
party. Under those circumstances he was obliged to fire upon them. One
volley and a few shots however were sufficient to get rid of them. He
came upon the Flinders above the navigable point. The range which he
crossed to the south-west of Carpentaria was a tableland, that between
the Flinders and the Thomson consisted of a series of hills and mountains
with passes between them, as Mr. Walker had described in his journal.

His Excellency inquired what were Mr. Landsborough's impressions and
ideas of the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria with reference to the
settlement there of Europeans at any future time?

Mr. Landsborough replied that, although living in the open air and not
having the best of food, the country agreed admirably with him. While his
party and the crew of the Victoria were at Carpentaria there was very
little sickness among them, nor was there fever and ague. The shores were